Automatic ticket gate

ABSTRACT

AN AUTOMATIC TICKET GATE IN WHICH ONCE THE DIRECTION IN WHICH PASSENGERS ARE PERMITTED TO PASS THROUGH THE GATE HAS BEEN DETERMINED, ANY PERSON WHO TRIES TO PASS THROUGH THE GATE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IS BLOCKED, BUT WHEREIN EVEN IF ANY PERSON HAS ENTERED THE GATE IN THE IMPASSABLE DIRECTION, THE GATE IS NOT INSTANTLY CLOSED, BUT A WARNING IS FIRST GIVEN AND IF THE PERSON NOTICING THE WARNING TURNS BACK, THE GATE IS KEPT OPEN FOR PASSENGERS TO COME IN.

Sept. 2l, TQ5H|O TANAKA ETAL 3,606,698

AUTOMATIC TICKET GATE Filed June 5, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 f@ ffl f/ 4f, 45' a [l l /2 /7 f 42 f 415/44/ fw ff "f5 Sept. 21, 1971 TO5H|O TANAKA ETAL 3,606,698

AUTOMATIC TICKET GATE Filed June 3, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet z No bw NL@ S Q Q Nw Nk .NN Wmv INVENTORSM Tos/flo T/M BY rE/suffe os/M/ To M0 SOD/q W my 4MM WTTORNEY Sept. 21, 1971 Tosi-"O TANAKA ETAL 3,606,698

AUTOMATIC TICKET GATE Filed June 3, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 7'05/1/0 Tin/MW /fE/z/IE 054K/ BY Torf/a www? 1/ ATTORNEY 3,606,698 AUTOMATIC TICKET GATE Toshio Tanaka and Keisuke Osaki, Kyoto, and Tokio Hosoda, Ibaragi, Japan, assignors to Omron Tateisi Electronics Co., Kyoto, `lapan Filed June 3, 1969, Ser. No. 829,891 Claims priority, application Japan, June 14, 1968, 43/ 41,260 Int. Cl. E051) 65/00 U.S. Cl. 49-35 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DSCLOSURE An automatic ticket gate in which once the direction in which passengers are permitted to pass through the gate has been determined, any person who tries to pass through the gate in the opposite direction is blocked, but wherein even if any person has entered the gate in the impassable direction, the gate is not instantly closed, but a warning is first given and if the person noticing the warning turns back, the gate is kept open for passengers to come in.

This invention relates to an automatic ticket gate and more particularly to a system for examining railway tickets or the like at an entrance or exit gate at a railway station and the like places.

As is well known, an automatic ticket gate is designed to automatically examine the tickets passengers have and permit only those passengers whose tickets have been found valid to pass through the gate. To this end, the gate is generally provided with means for testing the validity of tickets and means for detecting passengers, so that the opening and closing of the gate is controlled on the basis of the result of the operation of these means. In well known automatic ticket gates, passengers are permitted to pass through the gates in one direction only. If they come in the opposite direction, the gates are instantly closed to prevent the passengers from passing through the gates. Moreover, once the gates have been closed, they must be manually opened to enable passage through the gates again. This means that the longer the gates are kept closed, the more reduced is the passage eiiiciency of the gates.

Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to provide an automatic ticket gate wherein once the direction in which passengers are permitted to pass through the gate has been determined, any passenger who tries to pass through the gate in the opposite direction is blocked, but wherein if any person has entered the gate in the impassable or inhibited direction, the gate is not instantly closed, but first a warning is given and if the person noticing the warning turns back, the gate is kept open for passengers to come in.

The above-mentioned gate is a one-way gate, that is, the gate through which passengers are permitted to pass in a predetermined one direction only. This direction will be referred to as the passable direction hereinafter. In the prior art gates, once the passable direction has been determined, passengers are not allowed to pass through the gates in the direction opposite to the passable direction, with resulting reduction in the passage eiciency through the gates. If the arrangement is such that the passable direction in a gate is determined in accordance with the direction in which a passenger enters that gate, the gate can work as a two-way gate having a greater passage eiciency than the one-way gate.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide an automatic ticket gate in which the passable direction can be selectively determined to meet the direction in which a passenger is entering the gate.

"United States Patent O SUMMARY OF THB INVENTION These objects and others are achieved, briefly, by means dening the passable direction through the gate, means detecting the fact and direction of passenger passage through the gate, ticket receiving and validity examination means, means responsive to said passenger detecting means and said ticket receiving and examining means t0 provide an output signal if no valid ticket is provided by said passenger, means responsive to a passenger going through the gate in the non-passable direction to soundfan alarm, means operative in response to said passenger going back in the passable direction to inhibit the production of the output signal, and normally-open gate means blocking any invalid passenger from further passage through the gateY in his direction of passage upon the production of said output signal.

One embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

lFIG. l is a perspective view of a ticket gate embodying the invention;

'.FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are block diagrams combined to show the electrical control circuit of the ticket gate as shown in FIGS. I1 and 2.

`Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown a pair of elongated structures 10 and 20 defining a gateway therebetween. A passenger entering the gate in the direction of an arrow 30 inserts his or her ticket into a slit 12 formed on the top wall of the structure 10. The ticket is conveyed through the structure 10 by a suitable conveyer, not shown, to be sent out from a slit 14 formed adjacent the opposite end of the structure 10. While the ticket is being conveyed through the structure, the information recorded on the ticket is read by a suitable well known ticket information reader.

A passenger entering the gateway in the direction of an arrow 31 puts his or her ticket into a slit 22 formed in the top wall of the structure 20. The ticket is conveyed through the structure 20 by a suitable conveyer, not shown, to be sent out of another slit 24, and while the ticket is being conveyed through the structure 20 its information is read in the same manner as the ticket i11- serted into the slit 12 in the opposite structure 10.

A pair of gate bars 18 and 28 are provided in the facing inner side walls of the structures 10 and 20 adjacent one end thereof. These gate bars are adapted to close the gate against improper passengers entering the gate in the direction of the arrow 30. Another pair of gate bars 17 and 27 are provided in the facing inner side walls of the structures 10 and 20 adjacent the opposite ends thereof. These gate bars are adapted to close the gate against improper passengers entering the gate in the direction of the arrow 31. The arrangement may also be such that the gate bars are normally closed and they are opened for proper passengers entering the gate. Instead of the two pairs of gate bars, a single pair may be provided intermediate the length of the gateway.-

The structure |10 is provided adjacent one end thereof with four photosensors 41, 42, 43 and y44 adapted to receive the light beams projected from suitable light sources provided in the opposite structure 20. The light beams are intercepted by a passenger entering the gate. Adjacent the opposite end of the structure 10, there are provided four photosensors 51, 52, 53 and 5-4 for the same purpose as the photosensors 41-44. These photosensors will sometimes be referred to as the passenger detectors hereinafter.

When the system is so set as to control the passage through the gate of passengers coming in the direction of the arrow 30 (which will hereinafter be referred to as 3 the direction 30), the opening and closing of the gate bars will be controlled by the number of passengers entering the gate in the direction 30 and the number of the tickets inserted into the slit 12. If any improper passenger comes in among proper passengers, the number of passengers detected will become unequal to the number of valid tickets that have been detected. This discrepancy will be detected to close the gate bars.

With the direction 30 being the passable direction, if any passenger entering the gate in the opposite direction of the arrow 31 (which will hereinafter be referred to as the direction 31), the light beams entering the photosensors 51-54 are intercepted so that a warning is given, and as the passenger further advances to intercept the light beams entering the photosensors 41-44, the gate bars 17 and 27 are closed in front of the passenger. In addition to the gate bars 17 and 27, the gate bars 18 and 28 may also be closed at that time, if desired.

Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, when a passenger entering the gate in the direction 30I has inserted his ticket into the slit 12, a ticket detector 120 such as a switch provided inside the slit 12 produces a signal on a line 62. In the following description, a signal and the line on which the signal is produced will sometimes be designated by the same reference numeral. When a passenger entering the gate in the direction 31 has inserted a ticket into the slit 22, a ticket detector 220 such as a switch provided just inside the slit 22 produces a detection signal on a line 72. The signals 62 and 72 are applied as an input to INHIBIT elements 63 and 73, respectively. A positive voltage source 81 is connected through manual switches 74 and 64 to the inhibit input terminals of the INHIBIT elements 63 and 73, respectively. It is seen that when the switch 64 is closed to apply an inhibit input to the INHIBIT element 73, the system is set to deal with passengers coming in the direction 30, and that when the other switch 74 is closed, the system is set to deal with passengers coming in the opposite direction 31. In other words, the manual switches 64 and 74 determine the passable direction through the gate.

The outputs from the INHIBIT elements 63 and 73 are applied as one input to OR elements 65 and 75, respectively. The switches 64 and 74 are also connected to the OR elements 65 and 75, respectively. The output from the OR element 65 is applied as a set input to a Hip-flop 80, to which the output from the OR element 75 is applied as a reset input.

Suppose that the switch 64 is closed, with the switch 74 being kept open. If a passenger enters the gate in the direction 31 and inserts his ticket into the slit 22 so that the signal 72. is produced, the INHIBIT element 73 produces no output due to the inhibit input signal being applied thereto through the then closed switch 64. In the following description, When an element in the circuit produces an output signal, the condition will be referred to as the element producing a signal l or the output signal from the element being "1, and when an element produces no output, the condition will be referred to as the element producing a signal or the output signal from the element ybeing 0.

If a passenger entering the gate in the direction 30 has put his ticket into the slit 12, the signal 62 becomes "1 so that with the inhibit input to the INHIBIT element 63 being 0i due to the switch 73 then being open, the output signal from the element 63 becomes 1, which sets the ilip-op 80 through the OR element 65, whereupon the flip-flop 80 produces a set output on a line 66.

On the contrary, `with the switch 64 being open and the switch 74 closed, the ticket inserted into the slit 12 by a pasenger entering the gate in the direction 30 does not cause the INHIBIT element 63 to produce any output, but the ticket inserted into the slit 24 by a passenger entering the gate in the opposite direction 31 causes the flip-iliop 80 to be reset so that its reset output on a line 76 becomes "1. If both the switches 64 and 74 are kept open, the flip-Hop is set or reset in accordance with the direction in which a passenger enters the gate, so that the passable direction of the gate can be changed. Thus, it is possible to determine the passable direction of the gate either manually or automatically.

The set output 66 from the flip-flop 80 is applied as one input to AND elements 67 and 68, and the reset output 76 from the flip-flop 80 is applied as one input to AND elements 77 and 78. The outputs 66 and 76 will be referred to as the direction-30I signal and the direction- 31 signal, respectively. The AND elements 68 and 78 receive a signal as the other input. This signal 95 is normally 0 and becomes 1 when an improper passenger attempts to enter the gate in the direction opposite to the passable direction then set, as will be described in detail later. The signal 95 is used to change the passable direction between the directions 30'y and 31 and will be called the direction change signal.

The signal 95 is applied as an input to a NOT element 96. The output from the NOT element 496 is applied as the other input to the AND elements 67 and 77. The outputs from the AND elements 67 and 78 are applied to an OR element 69; and the outputs from the AND elements 68 and 77, to an OR element 79. Since the direction change signal 95 is normally 0, the output from the NOT element 96 is 1, so that the AND elements 67 and 77 alone are ready to operate while the AND elements 68 and 78. are not.

The outputs `60 and 70 from the OR elements 69 and 79 are applied to a diode matrix 97. The detection signals from the photosensors 41-44 and 51-54 are also applied to the matrix 97. The output signals 60i and 70 from the OR elements 69 and 79 will be referred to as Lthe direction-30-control signal and the direction-31- control signal, respectively. When the direction-30-control signal 60 is 1, the detection signals from the detectors 51-54 appear on the output lines 10-1-1014 of the matrix 97, respectively; and lwhen the direction-.31-control signal 70 is 1, the detection signals from the detectors 41-44 appear on the output lines 10'1-1014 of the same matrix, respectively.

The output lines 101-104 are connected to the input terminals of INHIBIT elements 10S-108, respectively. An OR element 109 applies its output 110, normally 0, as an inhibit input to the INHIBIT elements 10S-108. The outputs from the INHIBIT elements are applied to an AND element 111, the output from which is applied as a set input to a flip-Hop 113 through a line 112.

If the direction-30-control signal 60 is 1, upon detection of a passenger by all the photosensors 51-54, the output from the AND element 111 becomes l to set the flip-flop 113. On the contrary, if the direction-Sl-control signal 70 is 1, upon detection of a passenger by all the photosensors 41-44, the flip-flop 113 is also set.

The outputs from the INHIBIT elements 105408 are also applied to an OR element 114, the output from which is applied to a differentiator 115 through a NOT element` 116. It will be easily seen that when all the detection signals 101-104 from the photosensors are 0, the output signal from the NOT element 116 is 1, and when any one or more of the signals 101-104 becomes 1, the output from the NOT element 116 becomes 0, and when the y passenger has passed through the gate so as not to be detected by any of the photosensors 41-44 or 51-54 any longer, the output from the NOT element 116 again becomes 1, lwhereupon the differentiator 115 produces an output pulse on a line 117. Thus, it is after the flip-flop 113 has been set that the differentiator 115 produces an output. The differentiated pulse is applied as an inhibit input to the INHIBIT element 10S-108 through an IN- HIBIT element 118 and an OR element 109. This arrangement is for the purpose of preventing any of the INHIBIT elements 10S-108 from producing an output'when the passenger has his or her hand or baggage again detected by the photosensors immediately after he has passed them, so that the differential pulse cannot attain the required value.

The output pulse from the INHIBIT element 118` indi cates the detection of one passengerl having passed the gate in the passable direction. This output pulse is applied through a line 119 to a NOT element 121, the output from which appears on a line 123 through a differentiator 122. With this circuit arrangement, when the signal 119 changes from "1 to 0, that is, a short time after the passenger has passed the gate, the diferentiator 122 produces an output pulse on the line 123. The signal 112 will be called the passenger detection signal; the signal 119, the passage detection signal; and the signal 123, the passage completion signal. When one ticket has been inserted into the slit 12 or 22, one pulse is applied to a terminal 125. A quaternary pulse counter (which may be called the ticket counter) 124 counts the pulses appearing at the terminal 125. The counter 124 has four output terminals 0, 1, 2, and 3, the outputs on which are applied as one input to AND elements 130, 131, 132 and 133, respectively. When the inserted ticket has been found valid, a pulse is applied to a terminal 126. This pulse is applied as the other input to the AND elements 130-133. Thus, as tickets are inserted in the slit 12 or 22 and found Ivalid, the AND elements 130-133 successively produce an output. The outputs from the AND elements 130-133 are applied as a set input to flip-hops 160-163, respectively.

Another quaternary pulse counter (which may be called the passenger counter) 127 counts the pulses on the line 123 which are produced upon completion of passengers through the gate. It will be seen that the two counters 124 and 127 are capable of memorizing four passengers and four valid tickets. The passenger counter 127 has four output terminals 0, 1, 2 and 3, the outputs which are applied as one input to AND elements 141, 142, 143 and 140, respectively. The signal 119, which is produced before the input signal 123 to the counter 127 as previously mentioned, is applied as the outer input to the AND elements 140-143. The outputs from these AND elements are applied as a reset input to flip-ops 160-163 through OR elements 150-153, respectively.

When a first ticket is inserted into the slit 12 or 22, the ticket counter 124 has its output shifted from the terminal to the terminal 1, so that the AND element 131 receives one input, and if the ticket inserted is valid, the AND element 131 receives the other input through the terminal 126. As a result, the AND element 131 produces an output to set the flip-flop 161. When a second ticket is inserted, the counter 124 has its output shifted from the terminal 1 onto 2, and if the ticket inserted is valid, the AND element 132 produces an output to set the flip-flops 162. In like manner, when a third valid ticket is inserted, the flip-flop 163 is set, and when a fourth valid ticket is inserted, the ip-op 160 is set.

However, if the inserted ticket is found invalid, the flipflop 160-163 are not set. For example, when the fourth ticket is inserted, the counter 124 has its output shifted from the terminal 3 back to 0. However, the signal 126 remains 0, the output from the AND element 130 remains Ofand cannot set the flip-flop 160.

As a first pasenger passes the gate, the passage detection signal 119 becomes 1, so that the AND element 141 receiving this signal 119 and the output on the terminal 0 of the passenger counter 127 produces an output to reset the flip-flop 161 which has until then been set by the valid ticket the passenger inserted. When the passenger has completely passed the gate and the passage completion signal 123 becomes 1, the passenger counter 127 has its out put shifted from the terminal 0 onto 1. Then, as a second passenger comes in and passes through the gate, the passage detection signal 119 is rendered l so that the AND element 142 produces an output to reset the flip-hop 162. When the passenger has completely passed through the gate, the counter 127 has its output to the terminal 2 so that the flip-ilop 163 is reset. In this manner, the passage 6 detection signal 119 resets the flip-llops 160-163 which have until then been set by the ticket the passenger inserted into the gate. Suppose that a fourth passenger has used an improper ticket. The flip-flop which cannot be set by an improper ticket remains reset.

The reset outputs from the flip-flops 160-163 are applied as one input to AND elements -173, respectively. The passenger detection signal 112 (which is produced before the signal 119, 123 as previously mentioned) is applied as a second input to the AND elements 170- 173; and the outputs on the terminals 3, 0, 1 and 2 of the passenger counter 127 are applied as a third input to the AND elements 170173. The outputs from these AND elements 170-173 are applied as a set input to a flip-flop 129 through an OR element 128. The set output from the flip-flop 129 may be used as a signal to actuate a gate bar control device, not shown, to drive the gate bars to close the gate. To this end, the set output from the ilip-Op 129 is applied as one input to AND' elements 201 and 202. The previously mentioned direction-30-control signal 60 is applied as the other input to the AND element 201, and the direction-Bl-control signal 70 is applied as the other input to the AND element 202. The output from the AND element 201 may be used to close the gate bars 18 and 28, and the output from the AND element 202, to close the gate bars 17 and 27.

Suppose that a first passenger has inserted a valid ticket into the slit 12 or 22 so that the flip-flop 161 has been set. As the passenger advances through the gate, the passenger detection signal 112 becomes l, which is applied as one input to the AND element 171. At this time, the passenger counter 127 has an output on the terminal 0, which is applied as a second input to the AND element 171. However, since the reset output of the flip-flop 161 remains 0 at this time, the AND element 171 does not produce an output, so that the flip-flop 129 is not yet set. When this passenger has passed through the gate, the passage detection signal 119 becomes 1 so as to reset the flip-flop 161, thereby erasing the memory stored in the ip-ilop 161. Then, the passenger counter 127 receives the passage completion signal 123 to shift its output to the terminal y1.

If the ticket used is invalid, Hip-flops 160-163 are not set, so that the flip-flop 129 is set to close the gate bars in the following manner. Suppose, for example, that a fourth passenger has used an invalid ticket. The ilip-op 160 remains reset.v Then, when the passenger detection signal 112 `becomes 1, the AND element 170 receives all of the three inputs, that is, the signal 112, the reset output from the flip-flop 160 and the output at the terminal 3 of the passenger counter 127, so that the AND element 170 produces an output to set the llip-op 129. As a result, if the passable direction of the gate is the direction 30, the AND element 201 produces an output to close the gate bars 18 and 28, and if the passable direction of the gate is the direction 31, the AND element 202 produces an output to close the gate bars 17 and 27. Any known mechanism for driving the gate bars may be ernployed.

The outputs from the detectors 41-44 and 51-54 are also applied to a diode matrix 82. The set output 66 (which is the direction-30 signal) and the reset output 76 (which is the direction-31 signal) of the flip-flop are also applied to the diode matrix 82. When the signal 66 is 1, the diode matrix 88 transfers the detection signals from the detectors 51-54 onto the output lines 91 94, respectively; and when the input signal 76 is 1, the diode matrix 88 transfers the detection signals from the detectors 41-44 onto the output lines 91-94, respectively. The output lines 91 and 93 are connected to an AND element 35, the output from which is applied to an AND element 37 through a differentiator 36. The output line 91 is also connected to a NOT element 38, the output from which is applied to an AND element 37 through an olf-delay element 39. When the signal 91 is 0, the output from the NOT element 38 is 1, so that the output from the off-delay element 39 is 1. When both the signals 91 and 93 are rendered 1, the output from the AND element 35 becomes 1, so that the differentiator 36 produces an output. As a result, the AND element 37 produces an output. The output from the off-delay element 39 presently becomes 0, thereby rendering the output from the AND element 37 0.

While the direction-30 signal 66 is 1, that is, when the passable direction of the gate is set to the direction 30, if a passenger has entered the gate in the opposite direction 31, the passenger is detected first by the photosensors 53 and 54 and then 53, 54 and 51, 52. This causes the signal 93 to become 1. As a result, the differentiator 36 produces an output pulse. If at this time the output from the NOT element 38 becomes 0, the output from the otldelay element 39 remains l for some time to come, so that the AND element 37 produces an output pulse, which is applied as a set input to a flip-hop 46.

While the direction-30 signal 66 is 1, a passenger entering the gate in the direction 30 is first detected by the photosensor S1 so that the output from the NOT element 38 becomes 0. This causes the output from the off-delay element 39 to become "0 after a short time, so that when the passenger comes to be detected by both the photosensors 51 and 53, the AND element 37 does not produce any output due to the output signal from the olf-delay element being at this time.

It will be easily seen that when the direction-31 signal 76 is 1, any passenger entering the gate in the direction to be detected by the photosensors 43 and 41 causes the flip-flop 46 to be set. If a passenger enters the gate in the direction 31, however, the tiip-op 46 is kept reset.

The output lines 91 and 93 of the diode matrix 82 are also connected to a NOT element 48 through an OR element 47. The output from the NOT element 48 is applied as one input to an INHIBIT element through a diferentiator 49. The line 93 is also connected to the other input of the INHIBIT element 55 through an ottdelay element 56. The INHIBIT element 55 receives as an inhibit input the signal 88 which is normally 0 and is rendered 1 when an echo switch 880 connected to a voltage 135 is closed upon closing of the gate bars.

When the signal on the line 93 is 0, the output from the offdelay element 56 is 0, and when the signal 93 becomes 1, the INHIBIT element 55 receives one input. When both the signals 91 and 93 change from l to 0, the output from the NOT element 48 changes from "0 to 1, thereby causing the differentiator 49 to produce an output, which resets the fiip-op 46 through the OR element 58.

When the direction-30 signal 66 is 1, a passenger entering the gate in the opposite direction 31 is detected first by the pohtosensor 53 so that the output from the Cif-delay element 56 becomes 1. Presently, the passenger is detected by both the photosensors 53 and 51, and as the passenger further advances as far as he is no longed detected by the photosensors 51-53, the ditferentiator 49 produces an output. Before this, however, the output from the off-delay element 56 has already been rendered 0, so that the INHIBIT element 55 does not produce any output pulse.

yWith the direction-30 signal 66 being 1, if both the photosensors 53 and 51 detect a passenger, the output from the NOT element 48 is 0. As the passenger advances in the direction 30, the photosensor 51 and then 53 can no longer detect the passenger. However, the oildelay element 56 maintains its output "1 for a little more while and the differentiator 49 produces an output at this time, so that the INHIBIT element 55 produces an output to reset the Hip-flop 46.

When the direction-31 signal 76 is 1, if a passenger entering the gate in the opposite direction 30 is detected by the photosensors 41 and 43, the INHIBIT element S5 produces no output. However, a passenger entering the gate in the passable direction .31 causes the INHIBIT element 55 to produce an output to reset the flip-flop 46. In other words, when the flip-flop 46 has once been set by a passenger entering the gate in the direction opposite to the passable direction of the gate then set, the ip-op 46 is reset if that passenger noticing the wrong direction in which he is entering the gate turns back. This means that the system does not respond to any passenger entering the gate in the improper direction if the entrance has been retracted.

The reset output from the flip-op 46 and the output from the OR element 58 are applied to a NOT element 134- through OR elements 59 and 99. The output from the NOT element 134 appears on the line 110 through the OR element 109 and is applied as the inhibit input to the INHIBIT elements 10S-108 in order that the circuit connected to the output side of these elements 105408 may not operate.

The output lines 91-94 from the diode matrix 82 are also connected to a NOT element 184 through an OR element i83. The output from the NOT element 84 is applied as a set input to a tlip-op 89 through a dilerentiator 85 and an INHIBIT element 86. The reset output from the 1lip-fiop 89 is applied as one input to an AND element 87, to which the signal `88 is applied as the other input. The output from the AND element 87 `is applied to the inhibit input terminal of the INHIBIT element 86'. Since normally the signal 88 is 0, as previously mentioned, the inhibit input to the INHIBIT element 86 is 0, so that the output pulse from the dif'- ferentiator 85 sets the 1lip-flop 89. The outputfrom the OR element 59 is applied as a reset input to the ipop 89.

Under the condition that the direction-30 signal 66 is 1, when a passenger entering the gate is detected by all of the photosensors 51-54 and then no longer detected by any of these photosensors as he further advances through. the gate, the diterentiator 85 produces an output. Unless the passenger has entered the gate in the direction 31, the hip-flop 46 remains reset, soI that the output signal from the OR element 59 keeps the tlip-op 89 reset. On the contrary, if the passenger has entered the gate in the direction 31, the ip-op 46; is set, thereby removing the reset output from the flip-flop 46 so as to render the output from the OR element 59 0. As the result, the output pulse from the differentiator 85 sets the flip-Hop 89.

When the direction-31 signal 76 is 1, the flip-op 89 is set by a passenger having entered the gate in the direction 30, but the Hip-flop 89 remains reset when a passenger passes through the gate in the direction 31. The set output from the flip-flop `89 appears on the line to be used as the previously mentioned direction change signal 95. A buzzer 139 may be provided to sound in response toy the signal 95 which is produced when a passenger coming in the direction opposite to the passable direction of the gate then set has completely entered the gate, that is, passed the photosensors 41-44 or 51-54. If the passenger hearing the buzzer sounding notices his or her wrong direction and turns back, the ip-op 46 that has been set by him or he'r is reset by the output from the OR element 58, so that thev pdio'p 89 is reset for restoration of the system to the original condition.

The set output from the flip-flop 894 is applied as an input to the NOT element 134 through the OR element 99. This removes the inhibit input to the INHIBIT elements 10S-108 caused by the setting of the llip-op 46 when the passenger entering the gate in the direction opposite to the passable direction was detected. by the photosensors.

The output line 95 of the ip-op `89 is connected to the NOT element 96, as previously mentioned. Therefore, when the passable direction change signal 95 is rendered l upon entrance of a passenger into the gate in the direction opposite to the passable direction then set, the AND elements 78 and 68 receive one input so as to get ready to operate. At the same time, the output from the NOT element 96 becomes 0 thereby rendering the AND elements 67 and 77 inoperative. As a result, when the direction-31 signal 76 is 1, the direction-30- control signal 60 is l, and when the direction-30 signal 66 is 1, the direction-31-control signal is 1. To put it in more detail, suppose that the direction change signal 95 is 0. If the direction-30 signal 66 is 1, the gate bars 18 and 28 are controlled by the direction-30-control signal 60. However, when the direction change signal 95 is rendered 1 by a passenger entering the gate in the opposite direction 31, the direction-.30-control signal 66 causes the direction-31-control signal 70 to become 1, s that the diode matrix 97 operates in response to the outputs from the detectors 41-44. In other words, when the direction-30 signal 66 is 1, that is, when the passable direction of the gate is set to the direction 30, the direction-30-control signal 60 is 1. Under the condition, when the `direction change signal 95 is rendered l by a passenger entering the gate in the opposite direction 31, the direction-31-control signal 70 is rendered 1 soy that the diode matrix 97 transfers the outputs from the photosensors 41-44 onto the output lines 101-104 in the manner previously mentioned. As a result, the signal 112 is rendered l so that the ipflop 1219- is set to cause the gate bars 17 and 27 to close the gate. It will be easily seen that if the direction-31 signal 76 is 1, a passenger passing through the gate in the opposite direction 30 is detected so that the gate bars 118 and 2-8 close the gate against the passenger. When the gate bars are closed, a switch 137 is closed to reset all the liip-flops and the counters in the system.

What we claim is:

1. An automatic ticket gate which comprises:

(a) means defining a passable direction through the gate,

(b) means detecting the fact and direction of passenger passage through the gate,

(c) ticket receiving and validity examination means,

(d) means responsive to said passenger detecting means and said ticket receiving and examining means to provide an output signal if no valid ticket is provided by said passenger,

(e) means responsive to a passenger going through the gate in a non-passable direction to sound an alarm,

(f) means operative in response to said passenger going back in the passable direction tot inhibit the production of said output signal, and

(g) normally-open gate means operative to block any invalid passenger from further passage through t-he gate in his direction of passage upon the production of said output signal.

2. An automatic ticket gate as recited in claim 1, wherein said passable direction deiining means includes means manually operable to determine said passable direction.

3. An automatic ticket gate as recited in claim 1, wherein said ticket receiving and validity examination means includes receptacles at both ends of said gateway defining means and said passable direction defining means includes means operable in response to which of said receptacles has received a ticket to determine said passable direction.

4. An automatic ticket gate which permits bidirectional passage therethrough, comprising:

(a) means defining a gateway,

(b) means determining the passable direction through said gateway and providing a corresponding passable direction signal,

(c) a plurality of detecting means spaced in relation to said gateway so as to determine the direction of passage of a passenger therethrough,

(d) means having as inputs thereto said passable direction signal and a direction change signal and normally providing, in the absence of said direction change signal, a passable direction control signal which denotes the same passable direction as said passable direction signal, and providing, in the presence of said direction change signal, a passable direction control signal which denotes an opposite direction through said gateway to that denoted by said passable direction signal,

(e) means operative in response to said plurality of detecting means and said direction control signal to provide a first signal when a passenger has entered said gateway in said passable direction,

(f) means receiving a ticket from the passenger and providing a second signal when said ticket is valid,

(g) means operative in response to said Ifirst and said second signals for providing an output signal when said signals do not coincide,

(h) means which is set in response to sai-d passable direction signal and said plurality of detecting means to provide said direction change signal if a passenger enters said gateway in the non-passable direction and which is reset if said passenger turns around and leaves said gateway in the passable direction,

(i) warning means operative in response to said direction change signal, and

(j) normally-open gate means operative in response to said output signal and said passable direction control signal for blocking passage through said gateway to a passenger proceeding in the direction denoted by said passable direction control signal.

5. An automatic ticket gate as recited in claim 4, wherein said passable direction determining means includes means manually operable to determine said passable direction.

6. An automatic ticket gate as recited in claim 4, wherein said ticket receiving means includes receptacles at both ends of said gateway deiining means and said passable direction determining means includes means operable in response to which of said receptacle has received a ticket to determine said passable direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 220,624 10/1879l Jorgensen 49-49 3,169,329 2/1965 Powers 49-35 3,386,202 6/ 1968 Crews et al 49-35 3,478,467 11/1969 May 49-35 3,519,993 7/1970 Sakai et al 340-149 DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 340-149; 49-49 

